Manchester City Set To Miss Out In Pursuit of Real Madrid Centre-Back Pepe

Manchester City look set to be dashed in their hopes of signing Real Madrid defender Pepe according to talkSport.

The Portuguese centre-back, known for his aggressive, no-nonsense style, was made one of City’s top transfer targets this summer as the club look to strengthen in defence.

The club struggled somewhat at the back last season after being imperious during their title winning season. Joleon Lescott failed to live up to the same standards and started to show his age, while the same can be said for Kolo Toure.

The latter has now departed for Liverpool, freeing up space in the squad for a replacement and it is understood that new City boss Pellegrini was keen to fill it with Pepe.

The Chilean manager knows the defender well from his spell in charge of Madrid in 2009, and believes his combative style to be perfectly suited to the physical demands of English football.

But Madrid recently appointed Carlo Ancelotti to replace Jose Mourinho, and having run the rule over the squad, Ancelotti has reportedly decided Pepe to be crucial to his plans for the upcoming season.

Ancelotti has reportedly informed Pepe that he will be returned to the starting eleven after he found himself kicked out of the team last season by young French defender Raphael Varane.